AHS comments on publication of report into religion or belief in higher education

July 11th, 2011

Today sees the publication of the report, Religion and belief in higher education: the experiences of staff and students, authored by the Equality Challenge Unit (ECU), the body working to promote equality and diversity in higher education. The National Federation of Atheist, Humanist and Secular Student Societies (AHS), which is facilitated and supported by the British Humanist Association, acted over the past year as a stakeholder in the development of the report. The AHS believes that the report on the whole provides a positive contribution.

The report is largely based around a survey of staff and students that was conducted in December 2010 and January 2011. In December the AHS privately raised issue over the construction of the survey, challenging the ECU on a number of areas that did not allow secularists to give their point of view. In April the AHS gave feedback on a draft copy of the report.

The AHS is pleased to see that the majority of the issues it raised in its feedback were addressed prior to the final publication. 2010-11 AHS President Richy Thompson commented, ‘We welcome the changes made surrounding on ritual slaughter, graduation ceremonies, chaplaincy, single- and multi-faith space provision, and issues surrounding the term and, often, practice of interfaith excluding the non-religious.

‘However, some concerns do remain. For example, the report still recommends higher education institutions serve non-stunned meat, despite the views of the RSPCA, British Veterinary Association and Animal Farm Welfare Council that the practice be ended. We also remain concerned about reference to the flawed Census question on religion, and that our concerns about the funding of faith activities on campus were not taken up.’

The AHS looks forward to continuing to work with the ECU on the area of religion or belief in higher education.

Notes

For further comment or information, contact 2010-11 AHS President Richy Thompson on 020 7462 4993.

The National Federation of Atheist, Humanist and Secular Student Societies (AHS) is the umbrella organisation for all non-religious student societies in institutes of higher education across the UK and Republic of Ireland. The AHS’s vision is a thriving atheist, humanist or secular student society in every institute of higher education in the UK and Republic of Ireland, networked together, with a shared voice in public life, whose members can contribute to and be part of the wider national and international movement. The AHS’s mission to build, support and represent atheist, humanist and secular student societies; to facilitate communication between them, to encourage joint actions and to ensure that their members have opportunities to be part of the wider national and international movement.

The AHS is facilitated and supported by the British Humanist Association.

Our Campaigns

We want a country where institutions such as Parliament are separate from religious organisations, and everyone is treated equally, regardless of their beliefs.

Equality & Human Rights

As humanists, we support the right of every person to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be allowed to speak, and believe, as they wish.

Bishops in the House of Lords

26 Church of England Bishops sit as of right in the House of Lords, amending legislation. This unique privilege is unfair, unjustified and unpopular.

Assisted Dying

We believe individuals should have a right to decide to end their life if they are suffering, and that relatives and doctors should be able to assist that person.

Pseudoscience

NHS funding is spent on homeopathy, despite no evidence that it has health benefits beyond the placebo effect. This could be spent on other treatment.

Animal Welfare

UK law requires that animals killed for food are stunned before slaughter, as this is the most humane method – except with religious slaughter such as kosher and some halal, where there are exemptions.